The waters of Narragansett Bay served as the proving ground for a significant advancement in naval defense technology this week, as Portsmouth-based Raytheon successfully demonstrated its autonomous Barracuda mine neutralization vehicle in untethered operations for the first time.
The milestone test, conducted by Raytheon, an RTX business located at 1847 West Main Road in Portsmouth, showcased the Barracuda’s ability to operate independently underwater while navigating, communicating, detecting targets, and identifying potential threats without human intervention.
“This recent testing demonstrates the significant strides we’ve made in advancing mine countermeasure technology,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “Barracuda’s capabilities will dramatically improve safety and efficiency for the U.S. Navy, keeping sailors out of harm’s way while effectively addressing underwater threats.”
The choice of Narragansett Bay for these trials underscores the strategic importance of Rhode Island’s coastal waters for naval testing and development. The bay’s varied underwater terrain and conditions provide an ideal environment for evaluating the sophisticated sensors and navigation systems that allow the Barracuda to operate autonomously.
The Barracuda represents a new generation of mine countermeasure technology for the U.S. Navy. Unlike previous systems, this untethered, semi-autonomous vehicle can track and identify various types of underwater mines — including bottom, volume, and near-surface mines — while maintaining human oversight for final neutralization decisions.
The program originated within Raytheon’s Advanced Technology business segment, where innovators develop cutting-edge technologies that eventually become integrated into major defense systems. This research and development approach has previously contributed to flagship programs including the LTAMDS air defense system and the SPY-6 radar system.
According to the Navy’s acquisition timeline, the Barracuda program is progressing toward initial operational capability and low-rate initial production by 2030. Beyond mine neutralization, Raytheon is investing in developing larger, more advanced variants of the system to address emerging mission requirements in subsea and seabed warfare.
The successful demonstration in local waters highlights Portsmouth’s growing role as a hub for advanced naval technology development. With Raytheon’s significant presence in the community, the company continues to leverage Rhode Island’s maritime environment and skilled workforce to advance critical defense capabilities.
For more than a century, Raytheon has been at the forefront of defense technology development, creating solutions in integrated air and missile defense, advanced sensors and radars, and next-generation warfare systems across all domains.
The Barracuda’s successful autonomous operation in Narragansett Bay marks another chapter in the bay’s long history of supporting naval innovation and underscores the continued importance of Rhode Island’s waters in advancing America’s maritime defense capabilities.